Matthew Pouliot

Strike Zone

August First Baseman Rankings

Up this week are the August rankings. Players are ranked based on how I believe they will perform in 5x5 leagues over the remainder of the season. Along with the position rankings, you'll find a fully updated top 250 list.

I probably could have rolled back the first base rankings from 40 players to 35 this month, but I don't like doing that. No one in the bottom 10 here is a good bet to be very useful down the stretch. Davis (ankle) and Barton (shoulder) might be done for the season, and Overbay is going to have to find another job after being designated for assignment by Pittsburgh.

Lee rediscovered his power stroke for the Orioles last month, collecting six homers, five doubles and 19 RBI in 96 at-bats, and he should be a better bet to hit for average now that he's back in the National League with the Pirates.

The Diamondbacks picked Allen over Goldschmidt last month, only to trade Allen to the A's after he went 5-for-29 with three homers and seven RBI. Now it's Goldschmidt's turn after 30 homers in 366 at-bats in Double-A. I'd expect him to be pretty good, and he's a better bet than Allen was from a fantasy perspective because he's a right-handed hitter. Since Allen was a lefty, the Diamondbacks decided to have Nady platoon with him. Goldschmidt, though, should be a full-timer. I think he'll hit .250-.260 with at least six homers during the final two months.

The Reds have given Alonso just one start since calling him up in place of Jonny Gomes. It doesn't bode well for his fantasy value.

Up this week are the August rankings. Players are ranked based on how I believe they will perform in 5x5 leagues over the remainder of the season. Along with the position rankings, you'll find a fully updated top 250 list.

I probably could have rolled back the first base rankings from 40 players to 35 this month, but I don't like doing that. No one in the bottom 10 here is a good bet to be very useful down the stretch. Davis (ankle) and Barton (shoulder) might be done for the season, and Overbay is going to have to find another job after being designated for assignment by Pittsburgh.

Lee rediscovered his power stroke for the Orioles last month, collecting six homers, five doubles and 19 RBI in 96 at-bats, and he should be a better bet to hit for average now that he's back in the National League with the Pirates.

The Diamondbacks picked Allen over Goldschmidt last month, only to trade Allen to the A's after he went 5-for-29 with three homers and seven RBI. Now it's Goldschmidt's turn after 30 homers in 366 at-bats in Double-A. I'd expect him to be pretty good, and he's a better bet than Allen was from a fantasy perspective because he's a right-handed hitter. Since Allen was a lefty, the Diamondbacks decided to have Nady platoon with him. Goldschmidt, though, should be a full-timer. I think he'll hit .250-.260 with at least six homers during the final two months.

The Reds have given Alonso just one start since calling him up in place of Jonny Gomes. It doesn't bode well for his fantasy value.